Beat Them At Their Own Game With Slug-Proof Plants

Sick of molluscs making a meal of your precious plants? Give pellets a miss and opt for ones they don’t like – there are lots of garden-worthy options, says Louise Curley

- Louise Curley

Slugs regularly top the RHS list of gardening pests; and the washout winter, which included the wettest February since records began, has led experts to predict a significant increase in their numbers for this spring and summer.

In the past, gardeners would simply reach for the container of slug pellets to control them, but these days we’re much more aware of how the use of chemicals in the garden can have a detrimental effect on other wildlife. Pellets that contain the chemical metaldehyde are said to be toxic to fish, birds and mammals; meanwhile, those labelled as ‘suitable for organic growing’ contain ferric phosphate, and although they are believed to be safer, it’s thought that using them could have a negative impact on earthworms.

There are natural control methods that can be employed; however, the jury’s out on how effective they are. And – be honest – who wants a garden where plants are ringed with crushed eggshells? One of the easiest ways to tackle the slimy critters is to grow plants they don’t find tasty. Rather than persisting with the likes of delphiniums – a gourmet meal for any passing slugs or snails – only for them to be razed to the ground each spring, a safer bet is to opt for something else instead.

Try hairy-stemmed options like scabious

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